Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved,’ having a dome capitulum of golden yellow decorative flowers with a contrasting orange center. The new variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’ has an even branching habit with a good foliage presentation.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification:Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is‘Festival Time Yellow Improved.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, andreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved.’

‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’ identified as 20278-13A1 was discoveredas a whole plant natural mutation in a controlled cultivated planting ofthe variety ‘Festival Time Yellow’ (unpatented seedling). The newvariety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’ has been asexually reproduced byvegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and thedistinguishing characteristics are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plantvariety having a domed capitulum of golden yellow decorative flowerswith an orange contrasting center.

Comparison with Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’are similar to the parent variety ‘Festival Time Yellow’ in planthabitat and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Chichester, WestSussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice, plants of the newChrysanthemum variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’ compared to plantsof the parent ‘Festival Time Yellow’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’ produces        golden yellow decorative flowers with a dark contrasting center        whereas the parent ‘Festival Time Yellow’ produces yellow        decorative flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’        have similar inflorescence to plants of the parent ‘Festival        Time Yellow.’

Comparison with Other Varieties

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’are dissimilar to the cultivar ‘Jose Sunset Lady’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.10,800) in plant habitat and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons inChichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercial practice,plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’differed from plants of the variety ‘Jose Sunset Lady’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’ produces        golden yellow decorative flowers with an orange center whereas        ‘Jose Sunset Lady’ produces yellow decorative flowers with a red        center.    -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’        have larger and shorter inflorescence than plants of ‘Jose        Sunset Lady.’    -   3. The plants of the new variety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’        have a quicker response than the plants of the variety ‘Jose        Sunset Lady.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemumvariety ‘Festival Time Yellow Improved’ are shown in the accompanyingdigital photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within theusual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Festival Time YellowImproved’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 60 daysfrom the commencement of short days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘FestivalTime Yellow Improved’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester,West Sussex, United Kingdom in the month of September. The cultivar hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Thephenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment suchas temperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variancein genotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a potChrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperatureconditions averaging about 19° C. at night and about 17° C. to 24° C.during the day under light conditions of about 5,000 to 6,000 footcandles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such asone B9 treatment at about 2 gram per liter. To produce a commercialproduct the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. Thetypical container size for commercial growth is 1 liter. It has beenobserved that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with aresponse time of about 8 weeks. The new variety is suitable for growthin a temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

The new variety may be produced as a (spray or disbud). The followingdescription is with respect to a plant produced as pot. In thedescription of this new Chrysanthemum variety, color values have beentaken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

-   Plant type: Pot.-   Habit: Upright and free branching.-   Height (cm): 18.-   Width (cm): 27.-   Stem:    -   -   Length (cm).—5.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.7.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—147B.-   Branching characteristics: Upright and free branching.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Length (cm).—10.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.5.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.-   Number of breaks from pinch: 5.-   Response time: 54 days.-   Vigor: Medium.-   Shelf life: 21 days.-   Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to date.-   Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to date.-   Drought and temperature (susceptibility/resistance observed): None    observed to date.-   Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/liter    B9 @ 2, 21 and 28 days after sticking unrooted cuttings.

The plants were grown for 2 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours oflight) and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of dark).

-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative Propagation Via Stem Cuttings.        -   Time to rooting.—14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.        -   Rooting habit.—After 7 days the first roots emerge and form            root primordia. In 14 long days a complete root system is            developed.

Foliage

-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 10.-   Compound or single: Single.-   Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.    -   -   Shape of leaf.—5 lobed ovate.        -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 4 Length (cm): 7.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Attachment.—Petioled.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating.        -   Margin.—Palmately lobed.        -   Surface characteristics.—Top: slightly pubescent. Bottom:            pubescent.-   Petiole:    -   -   Color.—137B.        -   Length (cm).—0.8.        -   Diameter (cm) .—0.2.-   Venation:    -   -   Color.—Upper side: 147B. Under side: 147B.-   Color:    -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—137A; under side: 137C.        -   Young leaf, upper side.—137A; under side: 137C.

Flower

-   Flower appearance: Matte.-   Flower type: Decorative.-   Flower form: Slightly domed.-   Flower shape: Circular.-   Flowering habit: Cyme.-   Number of blossoms per branch: 5.-   Typical and observed flowering season: January to December.-   Inflorescence form: Cyme.    -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—2.5.        -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—7.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Number.—25.        -   Color.—137A.        -   Length (cm).—0.6 to 1.        -   Width (cm).—0.2.        -   Texture/appearance.—Pubescent.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length (cm).—10.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.5.        -   Angle from stem (degrees).—10.        -   Color.—137B.        -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly undulating.        -   Strength.—Medium.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Terminal (cm): 4; lateral (cm): 6.        -   Diameter (cm).—0.3.        -   Color.—137B.        -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly undulating.        -   Strength.—Medium.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Form/shape.—Straight.        -   Texture/appearance.—Matte.        -   Number per flower.—200.        -   Length (cm).—2 Width (cm): 0.8.        -   Apex.—Slightly dentate.        -   Base.—Tapered.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Disc florets: No known disc florets.-   Fragrance: None.-   Flower bud (at onset of color):    -   -   Length (cm).—0.9.        -   Diameter (cm).—1.        -   Form/shape.—Globular.-   General flower color:    -   -   1. Ray florets, upper side.—Immature: 10A and 26A. Mature:            10B and 26B. Older/Fading: 10B and 26B.        -   2. Ray florets, under side.—Immature: 26B. Mature: 22B.            Older/Fading: 10C.        -   3. Bud.—26B.-   Flower progression with age: There is a slight color fading and    reflex of the petals with age.

Reproductive Organs

-   Gynoecium present on Ray florets.-   Ray florets per individual flower. Pistillate.    -   -   Pistil number.—200.        -   Stigma color.—6C.        -   Stigma shape.—Forked.        -   Style color.—6C.        -   Style length (cm).—0.5.-   Androecium: None observed.-   Fruit and seeds: None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.